It is only the few, after all, who have the inborn inclination to sacrifice everything if needs be in the hope of attaining truth. What of the lesser souls who have no such passport, whose temperament, environment, family, or position forbids them from aspiring heroically to the highest goal? Can we hold no hope for them? Is it to be a case of all or nothing?
The answer is that nobody is asked to undertake more than lies within his strength or circumstances. There is room here for those with humble aims who do not feel equal to more than the slightest philosophic effort. Let them study these doctrines just a little where possible, but where even this is not possible let them accept these teachings on simple faith alone. Let them absorb a few leading tenets which make special appeal to them or which are more easily understandable by them than others. Let them practise a few minutes' meditation only once or twice weekly, if they do not find the time or tendency to practise more. Let them keep in only occasional touch by letter or otherwise with someone who represents in himself a definite personal attainment which, although beyond their own reach, is not beyond their own veneration. Thus they take the first step to establish right tendencies. If however they are unable to do any of these things, let them not despair. There still remains the path of occasional service. Let them give from time to time, as suits their capacity or convenience, a little help in kind or toil or coin to those who are themselves struggling against great odds to enlighten a world sorrow-struck through ignorance. For thus they will earn a gift of glad remembrance and internal notice whose unique value will be out of all proportion to what is offered. The karmic benefit of such offering will return to them, and even if it be long deferred they will have the intangible satisfaction which comes from all service placed on the Overself's altar.
-- Notebooks Category 1: Overview of the Quest > Chapter 5 : Self-Development > # 249
